Duathlon European Champions!
The local favorite Catriona Morrison representing Great Britain and the former multiple European and World Champion from Belgium, Benny Vansteelant won the 2007 Edinburgh ETU Duathlon European Championships.

In the women’s event during the first 10km run a group of four athletes managed to build a significant gap over the rest of the field including Morrison, the French duo of Alexandra Louison and Sandra Levenez as well as the top Italian duathlete Laura Giordano. Radka Vodickova followed them from Czech Republic 40 second behind. On the challenging bike course Morrison set the speed and only Louison was able to go with her, but only till the beginning of the second lap. From that on, Morrison found herself alone in front and built her lead lap by lap over the rest of the field. She managed to increase her lead up to 4 minutes, which was more than enough for her for the second run of 5km. The real competition was for the silver medal position between Louison and the Vodickova, since the Czech athlete managed to change for the second run with her French rival. They were running head to head, but Vodickova was the strongest in the end. Louison got the bronze. The U23 European title went to Charlotte Gauchet from France.

In the men’s race there were at least 10 athletes going for the top of the podium with real chance. After the mass start the young Portuguese athlete, Sergio Silva set the speed. His teammate, Lino Barruncho was able to go with him for the first lap but decided to drop back to the main chase group. From that point Silva was running alone in the front followed by the chase group which became smaller and smaller lap by lap as athletes were dropping out not being able keep the pace. Silva managed to have a 30 seconds lead over the rest of the field for the first transition. He was followed by Barruncho and an other 11 athletes including Benny Vansteelant, Rob Woestenbourghs both from Belgium, the French Stephane Valenti and Tom Lowe from Great Britain. It was obvious that Vansteelant will feel himself home on the difficult bike course. By the end of the first lap, only Silva, Barruncho and Valenti were able to go with him, but by the end of the second lap Vansteelant was alone in the front. He did not need to look back, just going his own speed. The chase group got more and more difference lap by lap. This difference was almost 1minute 30 seconds for the second transition. In the fifth lap the chase group was caught by the second chase group pulled by the younger Vansteelant, Joeri. In the final lap the Belgian teammates made their move and built 15 seconds gap over the other athletes in the chase pack. At this time of the race 4 Belgian athletes were in the front for the final lap. Benny Vansteelant had an impressive second run and managed to claim back the European title on short distance. Woestenbourghs could remain on the podium in silver medal position and the bronze went to Lowe with the best second run of the day. The U23 title also went to Belgium by Bart Aernouts.